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LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES
BMO Harris Bank Sponsors the 29th Chicago Latino Film Festival

CHICAGO, March 21, 2013 - BMO Harris Bank announced today their sponsorship of the 29th Chicago Latino Film Festival, which includes The Reel Film Club. The Festival takes place April 11th-25th at the AMC Loews Theaters 600 N. Michigan. The full schedule of events will be announced on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the official kickoff celebration.

"Our support of the 29th Chicago Latino Film Festival is an important investment in the Latino community, and part of our continued support to the arts and culture in Chicago," said Dave Casper, Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Banking, BMO Harris Bank, and Executive Sponsor of the bank's Latino Alliance Affinity Group. "This film festival is an important part of the city's cultural fabric, which features the work of promising Latin American filmmakers with a special emphasis on films that showcase the enormous diversity of Latin America."

The Chicago Latino Film Festival is produced every April by the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), a pan-Latino, nonprofit, multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to developing, promoting and increasing awarene ss of Latino culture among Latinos and other communities by presenting a wide variety of art forms. During the festival, films from all of Latin America, Brazil, Spain, Portugal and the United States are screened throughout the city.

"We are proud and excited to welcome BMO Harris Bank as a Gold Sponsor of the 29th Chicago Latino Film Festival," said Pepe Vargas, founder and executive director of the International Latino Cultural Center, producer of the Film Festival. "Their sponsorship recognizes the Latino community's cultural and economic impact in our city. We look forward to a long term relationship with BMO Harris Bank as we approach the celebration of an important milestone: our 30th anniversary".

The Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) is the largest and oldest Latino film festival in the nation, and presents over 100 films of cultural and social significance. This year CLFF has chosen "Cinco de Mayo: The Battle" as its Opening Night film. This multi-million dollar epic production recreates the events that led to the much celebrated battle against the French. The Opening Night gala will take place Thursday, April 11th at the AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St. The event starts at 6 p.m. and will conclude with a reception following the screening at the River East Arts Center, 435 E. Illinois St.

CLFF will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of controversial Cuban film "Strawberries and Chocolate" starring Jorge Perugorria with a special screening. Perugorria is scheduled to attend and present the film.

A series titled "Mexican-Jewish Connection" will be presented in conjunction with the Mexican and Jewish Cultural Partnership, a project of the National Museum of Mexican Art and the American Jewish Committee.

Once again, CLFF will present its Matinee Outreach Program, which offers elementary and high school students the opportunity to learn about the diversity of Latino cultures and to connect with their own heritage through film. The prog ram serves nearly 5,000 students from the Chicago area.

The Chicago Latino Film Festival presents a series of special segments as part of the general programming: Made In USA, Women In Film, and Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Trans/Queer (LGBTQ).

For more information on the Chicago Latino Film Festival visit, www.latinoculturalcenter.org

About BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank^SM is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,600 branches, and $542 billion in assets (as of Jan. 31, 2013).

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL AND ILCC

In 1985, the Chicago Latino Film Festival began with 14 films projected onto a concrete wall for 500 viewers, and has now grown into the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), a premiere cultural institution. The ILCC is a pan-Latino, nonprofit, multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to developing, promoting and increasing awareness of Latino cultures among Latinos and other communities by presenting a wide variety of art forms and education including film, music, dance, visual arts, comedy and theater. The Center prides itself for its outstanding multidisciplinary local and international cultural programming which spans Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and the United States.